LAHORE – Chinese Taipei took a big step towards the fourth AFC Challenge Cup qualifiers with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Laos at Taipei in the first-leg of their pre-qualification playoffs. The winner of Chinese Taipei/Laos tie will clash with Pakistan and Turkmenistan in Group B. The group stage will be played between from March 20 to 31. Cambodia and Philippines also won their pre-qualification matches, while the Bhutan-Afghanistan was postponed.
Lin Cheng-yi opened the scoring for Taipei in the 10th minute at the National Stadium, Kaohsiung. Han Chang doubled the home side’s advantage in the 22nd minute. Chen Po-liang struck in the last minute of the first-half to give Taipei a commanding three-goal lead. Just four minutes after the restart, Lo Chih-an made it 4-0, and Han struck the fifth in the 56th minute.
Kitsada Thongkhen reduced the deficit in the 65th minute while Phattana Syvilay struck a second for Laos, but the damage had been done. At Phnom Penh, Sam El Nasa struck twice as Cambodia defeated Macau 3-1 at the National Olympic Stadium. Nasa broke the deadlock three minutes into the second-half before doubling the home side’s advantage seven minutes later with his second goal. Khuon Laboravy made it 3-0 just before the hour-mark.
Macau’s Leong Ka Hang grabbed a consolation goal for his side. At Panaad Stadium, Bacolod, Philippines seized the advantage against Mongolia with a 2-0 home win. Emelio Caligdong opened the scoring with a 43rd minute strike. Philippines score again until stoppage-time, when ex-Chelsea reserve striker Phil Younghusband doubled the Azkals advantage.
